The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major advisor or view it and other current advising information on the CSU, Chico Web.

Please see General Education, Cultural Diversity, American Institutions, and Literacy Requirements under the BS in Geosciences.

Course Requirements for the Major: 67-75 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree.

Major Core Program: 49 units

Lower-Division Requirements: 36 units

8 courses required:

BIOL 151 Prin of Cell and Molec Biology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: Recommend CHEM 111 or concurrent enrollment.
BIOL 152 Prin Ecol, Evol, Org Biology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 151; recommend CHEM 112 or concurrent enrollment.
CHEM 111 General Chemistry 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
CHEM 112 General Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 111.
GEOS 102 Physical Geology 3.0 FS *
Prerequisites: High school chemistry or physics is recommended; students with no previous science courses are advised to enroll in GEOS 101. No college credit for those who have passed GEOS 101.
GEOS 250 Computer Apps in Geoscience 1.0 FS
Prerequisites: Prior or concurrent enrollment in MATH 120, or consent of instructor.
MATH 120 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; both MATH 118 and MATH 119 (or high school equivalent); a score that meets department guidelines on a department administered calculus readiness exam.
MATH 121 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: MATH 120.

2 courses selected from:

PHYS 202A General Physics 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. High school trigonometry and second-year high school algebra or equivalent (MATH 051 and MATH 118 at CSU, Chico).

AND (Both the above and following course must be taken)

PHYS 202B General Physics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: PHYS 202A.

Or two of the following three courses may be substituted for PHYS 202A and PHYS 202B.

PHYS 204A Mechanics 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of MATH 121 (second semester of calculus) or equivalent.
PHYS 204B Electricity and Magnetism 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204A with a grade of C- or higher.
PHYS 204C Heat/Wave Motion/Sound/Light 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204A with a grade of C- or higher.

Students who are considering attending graduate school should consult with an advisor before selecting lower-division core courses. We recommend PHYS 204A, PHYS 204B, and PHYS 204C.

Upper-Division Requirements: 13 units

5 courses required:

BIOL 350 Fundamentals of Ecology 3.0 FS WP
Prerequisites: BIOL 152 or faculty permission. Some taxonomic background is recommended.
GEOS 300 Earth System Science 3.0 FA WP
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; CHEM 107 or equivalent; PHYS 202A, PHYS 202B.
GEOS 330 Environmental Science 3.0 FS *
Prerequisites: One course from Breadth Area B1 and one course from Breadth Area B2 of the General Education requirements.
GEOS 331 Environmental Science Lab 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: Either CHEM 107 or CHEM 111, one course from Breadth Area B2.
GEOS 575 Senior Project 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: Senior standing in Hydrology or Environmental Science Options.

Major Option Course Requirements: 18-26 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.

The Option in Applied Ecology: 22 units

Lower-Division Requirements: 2 units

1 course required:

GEOS 270 California Water 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: One course from Breadth Area B1 of General Education.

Upper-Division Requirements: 20 units

6 courses required:

BIOL 402 Microbial Ecology 4.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 152. Recommended: BIOL 321.
BIOL 404 Aquatic Ecology 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: BIOL 152, CHEM 112.
CHEM 440 Environmental Chemistry 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
GEOG 427 Environmental Impact Analysis 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: GEOG 320 or equivalent.
GEOS 535 Pollution Ecology 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: Chem 112.
GEOS 536 Applied Ecology 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 350.

The Option in Atmospheric Science: 21 units

7 courses required:

CHEM 440 Environmental Chemistry 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
GEOS 321 Introduction to Meteorology 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: MATH 120; either PHYS 202B or PHYS 204C.
GEOS 400 Physical Meteorology 3.0 F1
Prerequisites: MATH 121; either PHYS 202B or PHYS 204C. Recommended: GEOS 321.
GEOS 501 Dynamic Meteorology & Analysis 3.0 S2
Prerequisites: GEOS 400.
GEOS 502 Air Pollution Meteorology 3.0 S1
Prerequisites: CHEM 112, GEOS 321 or GEOS 400, MATH 121, or faculty permission.
GEOS 517 The Atmospheric Environment 3.0 F1
Prerequisites: CHEM 112. Suggested: CHEM 440.
GEOS 530 Environmental Sys Modeling I 3.0 F2
Prerequisites: CHEM 112; GEOS 330 or faculty permission; MATH 120; either PHYS 202B or PHYS 204C.

The Option in Earth Resource Science: 18 units

Upper-Division Requirements: 18 units

5 courses required:

GEOS 306 Mineralogy and Lithology 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: GEOS 101 or GEOS 102; CHEM 107 or CHEM 111 or equivalent; or faculty permission.
GEOS 307 Stratigraphy 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: GEOS 203 and GEOS 306 (both may be taken concurrently), or faculty permission.
GEOS 360 Field Methods 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: GEOS 306, GEOS 307.
GEOS 549 Economic Geology 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: GEOS 306, GEOS 307.
GEOS 570 Environmental/Engineering Geol 3.0 S2
Prerequisites: GEOS 102, GEOS 203, GEOS 306. For majors in related sciences and technical fields, GEOS 102.

1 course selected from:

GEOS 380 Hydrology 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: GEOS 270; PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A (may be taken concurrently).
GEOS 415 Hydrogeology 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 111, GEOS 306, MATH 120; either PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A; either GEOS 270 or GEOS 380. Recommended: GEOS 307.

The Option in Environmental Chemistry: 21-22 units

5 courses required:

CHEM 425 Basic Instrumental Analysis 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 111, CHEM 112.
CHEM 440 Environmental Chemistry 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
GEOS 516 Natural Water Systems 3.0 F2
Prerequisites: CHEM 111. Suggested: CHEM 440.
GEOS 517 The Atmospheric Environment 3.0 F1
Prerequisites: CHEM 112. Suggested: CHEM 440.
GEOS 565 Geochemistry 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 111, GEOS 102. Recommended: GEOS 306.

6-7 units selected from:

CHEM 270 Organic Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
CHEM 445 Environmental Toxicology 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 108 or CHEM 270.
GEOS 530 Environmental Sys Modeling I 3.0 F2
Prerequisites: CHEM 112; GEOS 330 or faculty permission; MATH 120; either PHYS 202B or PHYS 204C.
GEOS 535 Pollution Ecology 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: Chem 112.

The Option in Hydrologic Science: 25-26 units

Lower-Division Requirements: 2 units

1 course required:

GEOS 260 Environmental Soil Science 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 111, PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A (may be taken concurrently).

Upper-Division Requirements: 23-24 units

4 courses required:

GEOS 380 Hydrology 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: GEOS 270; PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A (may be taken concurrently).
GEOS 381 Hydrologic Field Methods 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: GEOS 270 (may be taken concurrently), GEOS 380, GEOS 415, prior hydrology course work, or consent of instructor.
GEOS 415 Hydrogeology 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 111, GEOS 306, MATH 120; either PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A; either GEOS 270 or GEOS 380. Recommended: GEOS 307.
GEOS 460 Water Resources Management 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; GEOS 330 or GEOS 380.

1 course selected from:

GEOS 516 Natural Water Systems 3.0 F2
Prerequisites: CHEM 111. Suggested: CHEM 440.
GEOS 565 Geochemistry 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 111, GEOS 102. Recommended: GEOS 306.

1 course selected from:

GEOS 306 Mineralogy and Lithology 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: GEOS 101 or GEOS 102; CHEM 107 or CHEM 111 or equivalent; or faculty permission.
GEOS 535 Pollution Ecology 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: Chem 112.
GEOS 537 Ecohydrology 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 350, GEOS 270 or GEOS 380, or instructor consent.
GEOS 545 Applied Geophysics 3.0 S2
Prerequisites: One year of physics, GEOS 102, or faculty permission.

Advising Pattern Core Requirements: 6 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required depending upon the advising pattern chosen. Students must select one of the following advising patterns for the completion of the major course requirements.

Watershed Advising Pattern: 6 units

2 courses required:

GEOS 390 Surficial Processes 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: MATH 120; either PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A.
GEOS 410 Intro to Watershed Hydrology 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: GEOS 380 or prior hydrology course work and consent of instructor.

Hydrogeology Advising Pattern: 6 units

2 courses required:

GEOS 307 Stratigraphy 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: GEOS 203 and GEOS 306 (both may be taken concurrently), or faculty permission.
GEOS 530 Environmental Sys Modeling I 3.0 F2
Prerequisites: CHEM 112; GEOS 330 or faculty permission; MATH 120; either PHYS 202B or PHYS 204C.

Please see the Electives, Grading, and Advising Requirements under the BS in Geosciences.